Nairobi road renamed after Tanzania’s President Kikwete, vows to seek justice for detained Kenyan

President of Tanzania Jakaya Kikwete poses for a photo during the launching of Jakaya Kikwete road in Nairobi. BEVERLYNE MUSILI/STANDARD

NAIROBI: A city tycoon who has been detained in a Tanzanian prison for the past two years may finally get justice.

Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete vowed to look into Don Bosco Gichana's long delayed quest for justice.

Gichana who is also wanted by the US government over alleged money laundering, has been at the now renamed Arusha Main Prison, for two years, prompting Kisii residents to send a petition to Tanzanian authorities for his release or extradition.

Gichana, who unsuccessfully vied for the Kitutu Chache South parliamentary seat on a People's Democratic Party ticket in 2013, had stayed in jail for two years before his charges were read to him in 2015. He was charged with 12 counts of forgery, including altering documents jointly with a Tanzanian, Boastice Mwale, for money laundering.

Tuesday, in his brief but precise acceptance speech, Kikwete said that he would look into the case that had now been dragged in court for its third year and get to the bottom of the matter, consequently ensuring that justice was administered according to the law.

"I have heard about Don Bosco and as soon as I get back home I will look into his case and get to know why he hasn't got justice," said Kikwete.

He said this when he officiated the renaming of popular Milimani road that directly leads one to the State House, by Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero in his honour, to what will now be known as Jakaya Kikwete road.

This came moments after Milimani Member of Parliament Simba Arati pleaded with the Tanzanian President to look into the issue that had now garnered nationwide attention and even attracted over 8,000 members of the Free Don Facebook page that have been spearheading an online campaign for his release.

"Mr President I would like to kindly ask you that before you leave office to ensure that a Kenyan by the name Don Bosco who is detained in Tanzania gets to see justice," said Arati.

Carrying placards that showed their appreciation for Kikwete's visit to Kenya, the youth from Milimani area chanted pro Kikwete slogans.

Kikwete vowed to make a sizeable donation to the youth to boost their means of livelihood and this saw them sing and dance to songs of praise as the Tanzanian head of state boarded his motorcade.

Earlier in the day, President Kikwete had been presented with the keys to the Capital City by Dr Kidero who said that Nairobi City was honoured to host the President who is in his last term as President of Tanzania.

"The relationship between Kenya and Tanzania has grown from strength to strength and the handing over the keys has further strengthened it," said Dr Kidero.

President Kikwete while accepting the keys acknowledged that Nairobi being the hub of trade, finance and communications had contributed immensely to the relations between Kenya and Tanzania in the last 5 years.

The Tanzanian head of state said that he would ensure the relations between the two nations continued to prosper.